Success of postemergence weed management often depends upon application timing and weed seedling size. To develop a predictive tool for estimating green foxtail development and optimizing timing of management operations, seedling growth was monitored in fields for two years, as well as in a single greenhouse experiment, and compared with elapsed thermal time (growing degree days, GDD, base 10 C). The relationship between seedling height (mm) and GDD was similar both years and could be described by the following equation: Height = (-0.27 + 0.033 * GDD)2. A comparable equation described seedling growth in a greenhouse. Leaf number was linearly related to GDD. Green foxtail in corn was controlled with nicosulfuron applied at seven intervals between 100 and 450 GDD after corn planting in 1993 and 1994. In 1993 corn yield losses due to green foxtail interference were least when nicosulfuron was applied 200 to 300 GDD after planting, at which time green foxtail height was 50 to 100 mm. In 1994 corn yield losses were minimized if nicosulfuron was applied any time before 300 GDD.

The effects of microtopographic position on soil microenvironment and weed populations in ridge-tilled soybean were evaluated on three farms in Iowa in 1989 and 1990. In both years, over all weed species (primarily giant foxtail, green foxtail, yellow foxtail, redroot pigweed, and Pennsylvania smartweed), seedling emergence was highest in late May and early June, with few seedlings emerging after mid-June. Weed populations were highest in May and early June, after which rotary hoeing and cultivation reduced weed numbers in all plots. Microtopographic position (row, shoulder, and furrow) had a large effect on soil microenvironment and weed populations. Furrows were the wettest position through most of the growing season. Rows were the warmest position early in the season and the coolest position late in the season. Cumulative weed emergence early in the season was closely related to growing degree days, which accumulated faster in the row position than the furrow position. Following rotary hoeing and cultivation, the row position had significantly more total weeds than the shoulder and furrow positions on all farms in August of both years.

Substantial weed growth often occurs in legume-cereal cover-crop mixes commonly grown on organic vegetable farms. A 2-yr study at the USDA-ARS in Salinas, CA, was conducted to test the effect of zero, one, and two passes with a rotary hoe on weed control in a mixed cover crop of 10% rye, 15% common vetch, 15% purple vetch, 25% peas, and 35% bell bean. Rotary hoeing occurred 14–15 days after planting (DAP) in the one-pass treatment, and 14 and 28 DAP in the two-pass treatment. Rotary hoeing did not affect total cover-crop density or biomass in either year, but reduced rye density and biomass in year 2. One pass reduced total weed density by 69% in year 1 and 49% in year 2. A second pass did not affect weed density in year 1 but reduced weed density an additional 33% in year 2. One pass decreased weed biomass in year 1, whereas two passes were required to reduce weed biomass in year 2. Rotary hoeing reduced seed shed by chickweed and shepherd's-purse seeds, the two predominant weed species, by 80 to 95% in both years. Rotary hoe efficacy depended on weather conditions directly before and after cultivation. The decision to repeat rotary hoeing should be based upon field scouting and weather conditions following the initial pass with the rotary hoe.

Weeds of the genus Orobanche parasitize many dicotyledonous species, causing severe damage to vegetable and field crops worldwide. In Oregon, the number of red clover fields contaminated with small broomrape has increased in recent years. Small broomrape parasitism in red clover is temperature related. In this study, the temperature-dependent relationship was developed into a predictive model based on growing degree-days (GDD) for small broomrape parasitism in red clover. The model was developed in greenhouse studies and validated in the field during three growing seasons. A strong relationship between GDD and parasite size allowed for the creation of a simple predictive model for tubercle number based on GDD. The proposed model is based on a temperature range realistic to western Oregon climatic conditions and predicts lag, log, and maximum phases for four parasitism sizes in relation to GDD. Small broomrape parasitism in red clover began at about 400 GDD, but red clover biomass accumulation was not affected by parasitism before 1,200 GDD. Small broomrape flower stalk emergence began at about 1,100 GDD. Field studies validated that GDD could be a predictive parameter for small broomrape parasitism and could be used to time detection surveys and herbicide applications.